First Time Here? Things to Know

Before the massage session

Please arrive 5 to 10 minutes before your appointment start time. Arriving after your scheduled start time will cause your session to be cut short. Arriving early will give you time to settle down, fill out your intake form, and to use the restroom.

While in the waiting area, please turn off your phone or put it on "vibe" mode. You may be asked to fill out an intake form or new client registration form. If you will be using a gift certificate or special pricing, let the receptionist know at this time.

At the scheduled appointment start time, your therapist will come to the reception area, greet you, and guide you to your massage treatment room.

During the massage session

Your massage session starts when you and the therapist enter the treatment room. Your therapist will ask you few questions to better understand your goals for the session. If you are generally healthy and your primary objective is relaxation, this initial interview will be very brief; if your objective is pain relief, or if you have preexisting conditions or are taking medications, the discussion will take a bit longer. Once you and your therapist agree on the treatment plan, the therapist will give you instructions to get ready for the massage session and will leave the room to wash his/her hands.

If you are asked to undress, do so to the level of your comfort and lay under the sheet. Draping requirements vary around the world and around the country, but the City of Chicago has specific draping requirements; all clients be draped for modesty and comfort.

Depending on the length of your appointment, the hands-on session will end 50, 60, 75, 90, or 120 minutes after you and your therapist entered the treatment room. When the hands-on session ends, the therapist will leave the room to wash his/her hands. During that time, get dressed and wait in the room for the therapist to return. The therapist may spend a minute or two discussing the session, or making self care suggestions. Your therapist may offer you some water or ask if you wish to use the bathroom, and will take you back to the reception area.

After the session

At the reception area you will pay for your appointment. While it is not required, a 15%-20% gratuity on the price of the appointment (before discounts) is recommended and appreciated.

The day after your session, and beyond

The day after the massage you may feel more centered, more grounded, have greater body awareness, experience greater range of motion, and muscle ability. Your mood may be better, you may even get that promotion because your boss will now like you better that you are in a better mood.

Except when you don't. Because sometimes you will not.

Sometimes, depending on the type of massage that you had and depending on whether you receive massages regularly, you may experience some soreness 24 to 48 hours after your massage. Often the soreness is mild, but sometimes it may feel intense enough to be mistaken for actual muscle injury, This is known as DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) and is the same condition experienced after new or unfamiliar exercise. Sometimes, along with the soreness you may experience general malaise and even flu-like symptoms. Drink plenty of fluids and, if necessary, take some ibuprofen to take care of the soreness. The symptoms will stop approximately 48 hours after the massage.​ Be smart

As with exercise, massage works best when received on a regular basis. From time to time we get a client who books a massage and asks "I have had this pain for the past six months. Do you think 60 minutes would be enough time to fix it?" Hmmm. Be smart. Your body deserves better than that. YOU deserve better than that. Get regular massages. You deserve it!